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Alarming Rise in Teen Heart Disease Risk Factors
Did you know that 1 out of every 5 students in Grade 9 has at least one major risk factor for heart disease and stroke? (You can also see more on risk factors for heart disease among teenagers.)
The recent study by the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress in Edmonton shows just how fast teen health is declining.
The study showed an increase in cardiovascular risk factors since 2002, which lines up with what we see in the broader picture of the top risk factors of heart disease.
However, the most alarming statistic is that the study reported that 13% of teenagers are obese and 16% had high blood cholesterol levels (if you’re wondering what that means in practical terms, read what is considered high cholesterol).
Remember, this is in Canada (Only around 30 million people, whereas the United States has about ten times the number of people).
Obviously, there is a huge problem here. My thoughts would be to implement a more rigorous physical education (P.E) course/make P.E mandatory from middle school all the way through high school—because consistent movement matters, and regular exercise can have long-term benefits.
Also, remove junk food from cafeterias and put in healthier snacks. The kids will complain, but honestly, it must be done.
Additionally, as part of the P.E curriculum, spend a week, at least, on nutrition and the importance of exercise. Even small changes—like watching sodium—can add up, and high salt intake has real consequences.
These kids need to have this knowledge drilled into their minds so it becomes second nature to them. Somethings need to change and change quickly.
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